The Book of Common

Sun Up

I know said maybe I'd talk of Maggie. Well I gots
Somethin on my mind. Happened well right after
the Border War with Pen, Morgantown Virginia
way. Near the Waste Land Hard Pack that coal black stuff with red and pink streaks in it.
They say theys no dunes this part of it.
Hard Pack for few hundred miles. All the way
to what's now York and the Ohio Border.

I wasn't planning on finding out I'm tellin ya.
Put it straight didn't want to. Well I was told
that Ranger Station twelve which is now Ranger Station sixty York. Needed checked hadn't heard
a word from them. You see once a month they get
Resupplied the Company that does it dispatches
word to a Post they supplied from.

Well this Company hasn't got word from the last
resupply. So now I'm stuck checkin it. Didn't like
the place when it was twelve let a lone sixty.
Guess you want to know why, I'll a tell ya why!
Sits out at West Alexander York Damn Hard Pack!
Blast it all, gots ta ride on the hard pack. Hot unforgiving Sun glare, now mind ya if was further
north and east wouldn't be as bad. Only have ride on the Pack for an hour. Well best route is all Hard
Pack.
Well they gives me two water bags along with my
two canteens. Worried now more weight I got a distribute on the horse. Poor critter already holds
a load most don't have to. That company man says
good luck I nods say yep I'll need it. Guy says only about two and half day ride. I looked at him ya
know rather not do this at all. Well that gets a laugh. I heel my horse, shout good day to ya!

Two hours in horse ain't likin it, makin funny noises and such. So I climb off we walk some.
Thought maybe that funny quivering was just
the horse actin funny. I could feel it on my feet
in the stomach. Don't know what it is, they say some feel it others don't same with critters.

Constant type thin never stops, drive a man wild.
They say it ain't like that all over the Waste Land.
Just a section maybe a day wide and long. Of course old Common is stuck in that section. I'm hot
in need of water, way I feels probably toss it back
up. I'll hold off for a spell might feels better.

Damn horse just stops, I tug some on the reins.
Nothing its a tugging back. I pull down look it in
the eyes, now we has gots to go. Ifin we don't we
both dead, don't know about you horse I want ta
live. It pulled some more, I yanked back hard
show it who was boss. I said now horse we can't
be playin games, it's blame hot ifin you keep fightin me. We won't ever get out. That horse made
a noise like I've never heard. Then it just plopped
straight to the ground. Deader than all get out.

I'm lookin at a dead horse hot sun. All my belongins strapped to a dead horse. Now I'm starting to hear buzzing in my ears like a hive
of angry bees. Damn I'm a gettin dizzy. I sits
head ponding ears buzzing, my gut tumblin
like no tomorrow. My legs well now my backside is
tremblin. I am just to sick disturbed to move.

I takes I drink, lan sakes it hits my gut. Comes right
the hell back up. Now what do I do like the horse die. Just when I thought it couldn't get worser
I gets the creepy crawlies. You know those being
pricked by needles type feeling. Well folks old
Common is thinking he is goin to die.

I must of past out, I remember a dream like thing.
Someone telling me, Ranger I gots ya in my wagon.
Loaded your stuff too. You'll be fine by sun up.

I wakes to the sun in my eyes, I'm movin what Sam
white hell! Bam, bam tarnation what is goin on?
I sits up, I'm in a wagon. Did I hear someone say that. Looks behind me, well big guy a drivin the
wagon. I shouts hey teamster! Again teamster!

Hey Ranger I am Don, you a feelin better? Much
better, can we stop needs to relieve myself.
Wagon comes to a stop I roll over the tailgate.
Do my business climb back then jump in the
seat next to him. I'm Common I say thanks fer
helpin. Why doesn't that bother you or the blame
horse? Well he says I grew up close to this place,
seems sense we born around here doesn't bother
us as much. I've seen dead ones live ones gone crazy. Mind ya I gets the creepy crawlies, and what
most call the tremblen I don't gets nor the upset
stomach. Common he says real lucky I founds ya,
it may killed ya if not. You get to wanderin no one
a find ya.

I says don't think I could wandered off none, couldn't stand if I wanted. Dizzy hell thought I was
diein. He says might a been if you'd stayed put long
enough. Where you headed any ways? Ranger Station sixty ain't heard from them in awhile.

You in luck headed that way. Just got stop at home
is all, get some food and water. Take ya on in to
the station. They have horses at the station just added that about half year ago. Thank ya I says.
How far is home? Just an hour off the Hard Pack
here in a few minutes we turn east. We stops he points at a strange hunk of steel stickin up out
the hard pack. Turn east here be home in an hour.

His place now a stone one room house, dirt floor
hammock for a bed table two chairs. He has a water pump and sink inside. Walls loaded with
art work. I asked if he drew them. He nodded smiled big, sure did. Ya like them. They were pleasing to look at, told loved them. He fills couple water bags grabs some smoked meat few hard roles. Well Ranger we'll skirt the hard pack few
hours. Need to check over my land some.
Won't be any longer.

Long story short the supply wagon never made it.
found the driver and the wagon tore up. No supplies. Station they were good. Got a new horse
rode off to Post forty let them know. Never want ta
go back. Won't go back. Next hell you know me
what ever comes ta mind.